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Author Notes: I created a fun fizzy virgin version of Panakam , a 3000 (yep, 30 centuries) yr old drink that is still made in Homes & Temples in South India, primarily as a reaction to the head notes included in Madhur Jaffrey's book World vegetarian (listed as 'extinct, -- if you don't believe me, check out P.644 of the book). The next natural progression to raise the indignant streak with traditional, 'upright' propah South Indians world wide, would of course be to boozify it.. (I've 'Panfusined' my way thru a lot of their dishes, time now to tackle their beverages!). And 'boozify' it I did. Went down many iterations, some of which went happily down my hatch, others that did not. This final version, I sent off to to a spicy cocktail competition judged by Kara Newman, and she loved it well enough to pick it as the winner. - Panfusine

Add the vodka and ginger liqueur along with the seltzer/sparkling water. Strain into glasses (rimmed with sugar if desired) & serve chilled. Feel free to adjust the vodka as per your personal preference.

Alternatively, if your spirits are at room temperature, you may add the vodka & ginger liqueur into a cocktail shaker with plenty of ice along with the muddled sugar n' spice. Shake well & then add the sparkling water & seltzer. Strain into glasses & serve.

Thanks Sdebrango! & the unfortunate part is that she got the recipe all wrong in the book, Hard to believe that she'd never come across a single person from the bottom half of the country! making panaka is one of the first thing kids of my generation in the community were entrusted with while cooking.